Which solder spool for guitar repair

[bigmikebass]

Can someone please recommend me a preferred rosin core solder spool (bonus points for a link) for guitar electronics? I have used up my little stewmac trial coil and want to purchase a supply for my workshop.
Thanks in advance for your time,
Mike

 

[pfschim]

great question, I need the answer as well. I just used up the last of the small coil that came with my iron.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I'm no expert, so I won't be surprised to be corrected, but this one looks promising.

Forney 0.3 oz Rosin Core Solder Wire 1/20 in. D Tin/Lead 60/40 1 pc Mfr# 61429 - Ace Hardware

Forney Industries is one of America's longest operating family owned tool, equipment and accessory product companies. Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company was founded in 1932 and introduced the first publicly available arc welder in the 1940s. Today, Forney offers thousands of...

www.acehardware.com

One thing I did learn from my high school Digital Electronics class is to use the aforementioned "rosin core" solder, not "acid core".

 

[ColdEye]

These will last a while. Find the diameter you want. You can get deals on these on ebay, available on Amazon too.

Kester 14-6040-0093 SN60PB40 Solid Wire Solder 16 OZ, Solid 0.093 QQS571F WS | eBay

If you are not able to pick up locally, we are able to get competitive freight quotes as well.

www.ebay.com

 

[ardgedee]

Kester 44 is the best lead/tin solder you can get for simple electronics like guitars, but you should be considering lead-free solders for your safety.

 

[yberwaffe]

Tin/lead 60/40 with flux channels is perfect.
I prefer the Stannol brand but I don't think it matters that much.
Leadfree solder requires a bit higher tip temperature.
Lead fumes don't kill you if you use it occasionally.

 

[GregT]

One thing I've learned over the years it to buy extra tips for my soldering tool and change them occasionally. I remember how it wasn't working right a long time ago. I thought I'd lost my touch. I will never run out of solder in my lifetime, but if I were to, I'd get the Kester 44 like recommended above.

 

[Aloe]

I've got a 63/37 Kester based on advice on TB. it dries faster than the conventional 60/40.

 

[Geri O]

Use a small fan to blow those solder fumes away from your face. Most important, especially if you do a lot of soldering for a living as I have .

 

[SharpCat]

These will last a while. Find the diameter you want. You can get deals on these on ebay, available on Amazon too.

Kester 14-6040-0093 SN60PB40 Solid Wire Solder 16 OZ, Solid 0.093 QQS571F WS | eBay

If you are not able to pick up locally, we are able to get competitive freight quotes as well.

www.ebay.com

That particular link is for solder with no flux (no core). You’d have to use separate rosin with that.

 

[SharpCat]

Just yesterday Lindy Fralin released a Q&A video, and that was one of the questions. He uses Kester 44 rosin core solder, 60/40, 1 mm.

For guitar/bass stuff, I like it a bit thicker, 1.2 mm. Personal preferences on that.

Bonus fact: Fralin likes 700F generally, but bumps it up to 800F for soldering steel plates on pickups or pot cases.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

Tin/lead 60/40 with flux channels is perfect.
I prefer the Stannol brand but I don't think it matters that much.
Leadfree solder requires a bit higher tip temperature.
Lead fumes don't kill you if you use it occasionally.

A big problem is lead can cause a lot of damage long before you have a lethal amount of lead poisoning. It’s worth it, to me anyway, to turn up my iron a few degrees & keep lead out of my home.

 

[LanciaY10]

I've bought a cheapy 0.5 mm 60/40 wire with rosin core to replace a broken footswitch on my looper/switcher, It did the job perfectly, I was really hating having to clean all the flux on PCBs. The brand's name's Relife, it's chinese, but it does the job for almost nothing. Got it from Slovakia in the EU but you can get it from ebay too RELIFE RL-442 Active Rosin Core Soldering Wire – 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm | eBay

EDIT: nah this one sorry RELIFE RL-445 Soldering Wire 0.3mm | eBay

 

[Thumpin6string]

I'm no expert, so I won't be surprised to be corrected, but this one looks promising.

Forney 0.3 oz Rosin Core Solder Wire 1/20 in. D Tin/Lead 60/40 1 pc Mfr# 61429 - Ace Hardware

Forney Industries is one of America's longest operating family owned tool, equipment and accessory product companies. Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company was founded in 1932 and introduced the first publicly available arc welder in the 1940s. Today, Forney offers thousands of...

www.acehardware.com

One thing I did learn from my high school Digital Electronics class is to use the aforementioned "rosin core" solder, not "acid core".

I bought a roll of this solder from Napa auto parts at a good price. Used it to put my Bartolini preamp into my Franken Fretless 6 string. Worked great. I will say that I have found with the solder made today, that having a small jar of rosin is very helpful.

Forney 61426, Solder, Electrical Repair, Rosin Core, 1/32 in, 4 Ounce FNY 61426 | Buy Online - NAPA Auto Parts

 

[ardgedee]

Lead fumes don't kill you if you use it occasionally.

Lead doesn't turn gaseous at soldering temperatures. Its danger comes from ongoing exposure through physical contact.

Soldering should be done in a ventilated space because rosin fumes are toxic.

 

[LanciaY10]

Lead doesn't turn gaseous at soldering temperatures. Its danger comes from ongoing exposure through physical contact.

Soldering should be done in a ventilated space because rosin fumes are toxic.

Got a controlled mechanical ventilation system + always use a blower fan, we french don't know what an AC is lol (ask Lebron James wife, she was quite frustrated during the Paris Olympics

)

 

[logdrum]

Something lead free and just make sure your tip can get hot enough. During COVID, i had to work from home and they set me up for the occasional solder which was like 4 times in 1.5 years. It had to be leas free and it work just fine, I am not going back

 

[JamesGrant]

In the UK we often use the term ‘silver solder’ (or we did 25years ago…)
Uses a rosin core and lead free, also tends to be a bit cleaner than the lead solder

 

[Malak the Mad]

Use a small fan to blow those solder fumes away from your face. Most important, especially if you do a lot of soldering for a living as I have .

Agreed. My workbench is right in front of a window. Anytime I'm doing soldering, I pop my dual window fan in and set it to "exhaust" to pull out any nasty fumes. So far, so good.

 

[borgward]

I have some solder used to build Heathkits back in the 50's. What is it's composition? I am not worried about the infinitesimal lead exposure I would get repairing my things.